Main Findings for 3 Bedroom Properties

Between 2016 and 2017, 15 out of 18 areas saw increases in rents. These ranged from 1.3% in Renfrewshire / Inverclyde and 1.9% in Ayrshires to 10.9% in Forth Valley. Three areas saw decreases; these were North Lanarkshire (-1.6%), Argyll and Bute (-2.1%), and Aberdeen and Shire (-6.9%). This is the third consecutive annual decrease for Aberdeen and Shire, which is likely to reflect decreased demand for rental properties following the downturn in the oil industry. See Chart 6 and Table 3 below.

These regional trends combine to show an increase of 4.6% in average rents from £753 in 2016 to £787 in 2017 for 3 bedroom properties, at the Scotland level. This compares to an increase in the UK Consumer Price Index of 3.0% in the year to Sept-17.

Over the 7 year period from 2010 to 2017, the Greater Glasgow area has seen the greatest increase in private rents for 3 bedroom properties, with average monthly rents rising from £728 to £965, a 32.5% increase (cumulative over 7 years). Average rents have increased in Lothian by 24.6% and by 23.2% in East Dunbartonshire.

For all other areas of Scotland, average rents for 3 bedroom properties have also increased. From 2010 to 2017, cumulative increases have ranged from 1.2% in North Lanarkshire to 17.0% in Forth Valley. Average rents in Aberdeen and Shire have risen by 16.4% over the 7 years despite rents falling between 2014 and 2017.

These regional trends combine to show a 15.9% cumulative increase from £679 in 2010 to £787 in 2017 for 3 bedroom properties at the Scotland level.

Figures on changes to rents for 3 bedroom properties over the period from 2010 to 2017 should be considered in the context of the cumulative increase in the UK Consumer Price Index of 15.9% from Sept-10 to Sept-17. Over the 7 year period, average rents for 3 bedroom properties have risen faster than the consumer price index in 8 areas, shown in Chart 6 below.

See Reference Tables ( Tables 7 to 14) for a more detailed breakdown of quartile and average rents for each year.

For the year to end-September 2017, Lothian had the highest average monthly rents for 3 bedroom properties across Scotland (£1,144). Other areas with higher rents than the Scottish average for 3 bedroom properties (£787) were Greater Glasgow (£965), East Dunbartonshire (£924) and Aberdeen and Shire (£866). Areas with the lowest average rents included Dumfries and Galloway (£526), North Lanarkshire (£555), and Scottish Borders (£566). See Chart 7 below.